Cure chemo-rheology of mixtures based on epoxy resins and ester cyanates

Tetrafunctional epoxy and ester cyanate resins were cured together at several temperatures. Mixtures were investigated at different stoichiometric ratios. FTIR investigation of these systems through curing allowed us to analyze the reaction pathway of these reactive systems. Isothermal measurements performed by FTIR spectroscopy indicated that the curing reactions were dependent on the stoichiometric ratio of the mixtures. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) showed the dilution effect of the epoxy resin in the cyclotrimerization of the catalyzed cyanate ester resin and also the existence of several reactions during polymerization of the mixtures. Rheological characterization of the curing process indicated an evident delay of the vitrification time as epoxy content in the mixtures increased.